iPad Mini 2 With Retina Not Expected Until After Nexus 7 Successor

Apple’s next iPad mini likely won’t be out until third or possibly even fourth quarter of 2013. According to speculation from NPD Display Search analyst Paul Semeza, supply chain checks suggest the Retina version of Apple’s enormously popular mini tablet will land the tablet for a fall release.

Semeza’s report corroborates a similar suggestion from KGI analyst Ming-Chu Kuo, who said the expected device wouldn’t arrive until third quarter. Semeza goes on to say that Google’s sequel to the Nexus 7 is already taking shape—maybe an I/O announcement is in order—and that device could sport a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution screen. Apple’s upcoming iPad mini 2, on the other hand, will sport a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution, though Apple’s mini tab has a screen size of 7.9-inches compared to the Nexus 7’s 7-inch display.

Follow up devices to the Nexus 7 and iPad mini were always expected; likewise with the increased screen resolutions. Timing is still a point of contention, but twelve or so months following an initial release sounds about right. Apple is still enjoying healthy iPad sales, so it’ll be in no rush to push out the iPad mini 2. At least not until the next Nexus 7 is out.